The Shadow Men stood in little clumps all over the room

Disclaimer: I own nothing L.J. Smith related.

Note: There will be only one or two more chapters after this one. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far.

The Shadow Men stood in little clumps all over the room. They did not sulk in the shadows at the edges of the room as they had when the game had just begun. Then they had not been sure as to how the outcome would come out. They had been wary, careful to make sure that they saw who was to win first before choosing their side. Now, they stood all over the room, waiting for the game to end. Their king's victory seemed inevitable.

Whispers passed through the groups, reaching others and growing in volume. They were excited. Julian was on his way back to the Shadow World with Alyx. The game would be won and then Ezra would leave Julian and Jenny to them. To play with.

They all felt famished.

Ezra slouched in his chair in the middle of the room. Every where he looked, Shadow Men stood around him, grinning at him like stupid dogs. They were so happy that he was to win the game. But, what did Ezra feel about winning the game? Discontent. He knew that he should be happy. After all, Alyx was what he wanted and it seemed that he would be getting her soon. But, why then did he feel as if even after the game was over with, he would still not be truly satisfied?

He had never intended to let Jenny go. He wanted to punish her for taking Julian's attention away from the Shadow Men all those years ago. Ezra wanted to make her pay. But, he always played a game by its rules. He had told Julian that if he brought Alyx to the Shadow World then Jenny could go free. But, Ezra thought, he mouth curling into a tight smile, who knows what dangers would befall Jenny on the way to the door to her world?

Even over that, Ezra did not feel truly happy. Sure, he will be able to deal with Julian as he wanted to. Would he torture him some more or simply cut him out of existence yet again? But, even that held low appeal at that moment. After he was done with Julian, the game would be over with and done. And then what would he have to do for fun?

…………………………………………………….

Jenny sat on the ground, her knees pulled up to her chest and her eyes shut tight. Oh God, she thought. Please leave me alone.

Were they there? Was that voice, that horrid, mocking voice still out there in the darkness that surrounded her in her own little prison?

She prayed that it would go away and leave her alone. Jenny had no idea where she was, except for the fact that she was back in the Shadow World. A sliver of dread shot down her spine as she realized for the millionth time as to where she was. The Shadow World. Her first thought on realizing where she was had been, oh God not again. And she had sunk to the cold dirt floor, fearing that this time, this time she would not make it out.

Jenny gritted her teeth and tried to make sense of everything. She had thought that this was Julian's doing. That he had wanted to play another game with her. But, the voice that she heard in this room was not his. No, it was a bit deeper, more menacing. Someone else kept her prisoner here in the Shadow World. But who? And if someone else was keeping her prisoner, where was Julian?

…………………………………………….

Julian stood at the very edge of the Shadow World, just inside the doorway to the other world. Alyx lay in his arms, unconscious. It had been easier to bring her that way. He had been afraid that she would have screamed, that she would have fought him against coming to this awful place. He couldn't imagine what he would have done if she had. It was hard enough bringing her here in the first place. Seeing her fight to get away would just be too much.

And he had to bring her. There was no other way. The entire journey back to the Shadow World he had wracked his brain, trying to come up with some way to leave Alyx out of this. If he had been the ruler of the Shadow Men still………well, he would have had enough power to simply fight Ezra for Jenny. But, he was not the ruler, Ezra was. And Ezra had every Shadow Man on his side. But, that wouldn't stop Julian from still trying. It was still a game and he still had to try. So much depended on it.

Of course, he was not exactly powerless. There were a few things that he could still do. Things, Julian thought, that Ezra has never even thought of and has not planned for.

Slowly, Julian bent down to his knees, careful not to drop Alyx. Her hair cascaded down his arm and fell into the open air as he moved, but the rest of her body did not move. Unconsciousness, he knew, had most likely been her savior up to that point.

He laid her down on the ground and brushed a couple of strands of hair out of her face. He didn't truly want to leave her there, but he had to. There was something that he had to do before going to face Ezra. And he could not take Alyx with him as he did it. She had to stay where she was, just inside the doorway, hidden from the other Shadow Men.

Julian bent even more, laying his hands on the cold floor on either side of her body. Wisps of his own hair fell in his face, but he ignored them. His lips were next to her ear and he whispered, "I will be back. I shall not leave you here. I promise you."

And then he was gone.

……………………………………………..

Jenny shivered against the cold of the room, wishing that she were anywhere but there. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked out into the darkness of the room yet again. Straining her eyes, she peered into the darkness, trying to see something, anything. But, she could not see at all. The darkness was too thick.

She shifted her position on the floor a bit and then leaned her head back against the rock wall behind her and closed her eyes. It was so disconcerting to not be able to see anything at all, even when her eyes were open. It allowed fear to grow within her, not knowing what was out there in the darkness of the room. But, when her eyes were closed, she felt a bit better. If they were closed, she could not feel the danger in the darkness so much because she had made the darkness by closing her eyes. Opening her eyes would only allow her to be enveloped by another, more dangerous darkness.

"Julian," she whispered, and then wondered why she had. She still did not know where he fit into this whole mess. His was not the voice she had heard earlier in her prison. But, was he still part of the game that she seemed to be tangled up in?

Then again, it stood to reason that if he were playing another game with her, it would be to win her over like it had been before. And then, wouldn't he protect her from the other Shadow Men? So, where was he?

It seemed strange that the Shadow Men, who had had no problem taking Julian out of existence before, now brought him back to finish his game with her. Especially, when he had given his own life to protect her in the end. They would not want to give Julian what he wanted, but surely they were not toying with him too. And why not, Jenny asked herself. That is what they do. They toy with people.

She shook her head, trying to clear all thoughts of Julian out of it. It was all so confusing to her. Something about Julian's involvement didn't feel right to her, but then again, he was a Shadow Man. Could she possibly trust him?

Jenny opened her eyes again and stared out into the darkness. She felt so uneasy, sitting there not being able to see anything at all. She remembered how much Julian had loved light. He had called her a 'light to his darkness'. And, at that moment, Jenny realized what it must like to always live in the darkness as this. To never have light, but to crave it like a human craves water in a desert. And she understood the power that light had over the Shadow Men and why they seemed ready to do anything to capture it. Jenny, herself, craved light as she sat on the cold dirt floor of her prison. She wanted light more than anything. Light to see by, to give her answers to the questions that had been burning in her mind since she had been trapped in the room. Was she alone? Was there some way out of there?

As if someone had heard her thoughts, a small flame struck up out of nowhere and settled down just a few feet in front of her. She looked at it, her eyes wide at seeing it before her.

It was a candle; she could see the wax now. It slipped down the sides of the candle and came to pool on the dirt floor in front of her. She stared at it, watching the red and yellow flame dance in the darkness around it. Where did it come from, she wondered. It wasn't here just minutes ago.

Her eyes lifted off of the candle and her breath caught in her throat. She froze, afraid to speak. She hadn't seen him at all before and she had no idea how long he had been there, but he was there all the same.

He was standing right behind the candle, it's light playing off of his white-blond hair. He was dressed in all black- black boots, black jeans, black t-shirt and long black leather jacket. And he was staring down at her; simply watching her. The hard look in his eyes made Jenny's heart pound with fear.

She returned Julian's gaze with a timid one of her own; afraid of what would happen next. Please, she prayed silently, just let it be over soon.

………………………………….

She looked so small and innocent where she sat curled up on the floor. Julian had the overwhelming urge to scoop her up in his arms and carry her to the doorway to her world. He could make it without Ezra's knowledge, he knew. As it was, Ezra did not even know that Julian was there with Jenny. But, if he escaped through the doorway to Jenny's world with her and Alyx, then he would always be on the run. The Shadow Men did not ever stop a game in the middle of it. He would be hunted until the game was finished. And, inevitably, Jenny and Alyx would be hurt even more than they had been already. No, he had to stay and finish the quest that had been set before him.

But, as he stared down at Jenny and saw first the awe in her eyes as she looked at the light in front of her and then the fear as her eyes rested upon him, Julian knew that he would do everything in his power to kill Ezra once and for all. This was the last game he would play and at the end, Julian hoped that Ezra would be the loser.

His face hardened as he saw how much pain this new game had caused Jenny. She looked so scared, so unlike the Jenny he had known years before. It was almost as if he were looking at a totally different person. Who was this person before him, he wondered. She was a shell of the old Jenny. And Julian knew that if Jenny were to survive this game, she would have to find at least a small bit of the old Jenny within herself. He needed her to be strong as she had been before.

Julian's gaze swept away from Jenny's face for just a moment and then he looked back. There was only one way that he could help her at this point. And then the rest was up to her.

With a wave of his hand, the candle moved over a couple of feet to the right, giving Julian ample room. His eyes still on Jenny, he dropped to one knee in front of her.

"Jenny," he said, feeling the warmth in his belly as he always did when he said her name. "I don't have much time. He'll know where I am soon. I…..I have something to give you, though."

Julian reached out his right hand slowly towards her. He tried to ignore how she seemed to shrink away from his hand as it came closer to her. "Trust me," he whispered and then his hand settled on her cheek.

Slowly, the tip of his index finger traced a small circle where it lay on her skin. He felt her relax a bit and he took that as an invitation. His other hand came up quickly to cup her other cheek and she gasped, knowing that she was in his control.

"Relax," he whispered, his icy blue eyes staring deep into her own brown ones.

It was killing him to be so close to her, to touch her like he was. In the back of his mind, Julian knew that he had to go, that Ezra would be expecting him. But, he could not simply leave Jenny with so much fright within her. He could feel it pulsing under her skin and it made him feel so much shame. If he had not lured her to the Shadow World years ago, then none of this would have happened. If he had not………

No time for that now, Julian told himself.

But, he could not help noticing how still Jenny sat, staring at him. Or how soft her skin was under his hands.

Ever so slowly, Julian bent towards her, his face coming closer to her own. "Trust me," he whispered again. It's all to help her, he thought as his lips touched her own.

Julian heard Jenny gasp, her body freezing in fear. And then she relaxed, as he kissed her, allowing warmth from himself to seep slowly into her. Yes, there were a few things that he could do still that even Ezra was not aware of.

It felt so good to Julian to be kissing Jenny as he had always wanted to. His tongue touched her top bottom lip in question and she opened her lips, allowing him to deepen the kiss even more. It seemed as if everything- Ezra, the quest, Alyx- it was all just slipping away. As long as he could simply sit there and kiss Jenny, it was all gone. A part of his mind wanted to forget all about that stuff, to leave it aside and stay with Jenny forever this way. But, Julian knew he couldn't. Ezra was expecting him.

He could feel the fear draining out of Jenny slowly, but still, she did not move other than to return his kiss. Her hands sat motionless in her lap. That did not matter to Julian, though. All that mattered was the little hint of the old Jenny that he was getting.

Slowly, very much wishing he did not have to, Julian pulled away from Jenny. He sat back on his heels and smiled as he watched her look at him dazedly. She had no idea what had just happened, he knew. But, he thought as he remembered their kiss deepening, she had enjoyed it just as much as he had.

"Julian…," she started, staring at him with look of awe mixed with surprise.

"Shhh…," he whispered, cutting her off. "There isn't time. I must go."

A troubled look came into Jenny's eyes. "But," Julian continued before she could say anything else, "I will be back to get you. I promise I will get you out of here. You have my word."

He could see the confusion in her eyes as she tried to comprehend what was happening. She had no idea who Ezra was or what game they were playing, Julian knew. He sympathized with the fact that she really did not know what was going on at all. But, he thought, would it be easier if she did? No, it would probably be even harder in that case.

He stood quickly, before his mind could talk him out of leaving. He could feel the cool of the darkness away from the candle and he wished with all his might that he did not have to leave her there.

'Trust me," he said, taking a step back out of the candle light. And then he was gone.

…………………………………………..

It had all happened so fast that Jenny didn't even know truly what had happened. Had Julian really been there? Had she really kissed him, forgetting the fact that he might, in some way, be responsible for her being in the Shadow World?

She shook her head and glanced at the candle, it's flame seeming to hypnotize her. She stared at the blue fire at the very core of the flame and she wondered just what it was that had happened just minutes before.

He had said to trust him. But, could she really do that? Was this another one of his games? What if, her mind asked, if he is using me? Would he do that?

It was so easy to think that the Julian she had just seen was too compassionate to hurt her. But, Jenny had dealt with Shadow Men before and she knew that they could not be trusted. Was Julian the same? Had he not given his own life for her before?

She did not feel scared now. All she wanted was out. She wanted to go back to her own life and forget all about the Shadow World and the voice in the darkness. But, what about Julian? She had never truly forgotten him before and now…….Jenny doubted very much that she could ever forget him now.

She kept staring into the candle's flame, allowing her body to relax. Whether Julian was using her or not, she needed to be ready for whatever was going to happen next. Jenny sighed, thinking that as much as she wished this was not one of Julian's lies, it sure looked like it could be one.

And then, as she stared at the flame, another thought crossed her mind. He had brought her a gift. The candlelight danced on the wick before her. He had brought her the light that she had craved.

……………………………………………..

"Where's the girl?" Ezra asked as Julian cut through the groups of Shadow Men and came to a stop in front of Ezra's throne.

"She's here," Julian replied briefly, his eyes cold on Ezra. Yes, he would make him pay for every little ounce of pain that Jenny had felt.

Ezra stood, a cocky grin on his face. Oh, how he was loving this. The power over Julian was amazing. It ran through his veins, making him feel a bit drunk on it.

Lazily, Ezra circled Julian, looking around exaggeratingly, as if trying to spot the missing girl. He finished his circle and came to stand right in front of Julian. They were the same height and both stared hard at each other as if willing the other one to make the first move.

"I don't see her, Julian," Ezra said darkly, and the groups of Shadow Men tittered with laughter.

Ezra raised his hand briefly and the laughter quickly subsided. He stared hard at Julian, waiting for the young Shadow Man to explain Alyx's absence. Where was she? He had been very explicit about his directions. Julian was to bring Alyx to the Shadow World. Surely, Julian would not risk his precious Jenny's life by not bringing Alyx with him.

"Let me have Jenny first," Julian said without even blinking, "And you shall have Alyx."

Ezra raised an eyebrow and then laughed. "Let you have Jenny first," he repeated and then laughed again. "Oh yes, Julian, you would like to get Jenny back, would you not?"

Ezra turned away from Julian as if dismissing him and walked back to his throne. He sat down slowly, his gaze returning to Julian. Anger seethed through Ezra. Who did Julian think he was? Did he not know that Ezra had so much more power than him? Did he not know that Ezra could kill Jenny with a simple snap of his fingers? All he had to do was give the word and the Shadow Men would take care of Jenny before Julian would even know to protest.

"The conditions of the game were that you would bring Alyx to me and I would let Jenny go."

Ezra smiled, knowing that he held the upper hand now. "Of course, I never did say that I would give Jenny to you. I simply said I would allow her to go back to the mortal world."

He looked around him as if contemplating exactly what that meant. "And who knows what kind of dangers lurk in the shadows on the way to the door back to her world?" Ezra caught Julian's face harden out of the corner of his eye and he looked back at the other Shadow Man. He could see Julian's hands clenching and unclenching into fists at his sides.

Exactly how angry can I make him, Ezra wondered. "Since you have not brought Alyx to me, I have won. The game is over."

The Shadow Men cheered, happy to see that their king had won the game. They had been so sure that he would. Together as one, they surged forward, knowing that they now controlled Julian. Ezra was sure to give him to them. He had said he would.

"And," Ezra said, smiling sweetly at Julian, "Jenny is mine."

The Shadow Men grabbed hold of Julian's arms and he gasped. He fought them, trying to get away. How could he have been so stupid? He had left Alyx by the doorway, hoping to keep her hidden to he at least had Jenny back. Julian had never even thought of how Ezra had never said that Jenny would be given back to him. And he had walked right into the trap, unknowing of it all. So stupid, he thought.

Someone pulled on his hair and his head snapped back. Hands grabbed his shoulders and legs, pulling on him from every direction it seemed. His balance was lost and Julian fell, landing hard on the floor. But, still he fought for his freedom.

Famished, the Shadow Men chanted as they crowded in to get a hold on him. Famished.

It was impossible. There were too many of them. There was no way that he could possibly fight them all off. Julian could feel himself start to give up as he realized that there was no way he could win against all of them.

Someone grabbed at his neck and squeezed it tightly.

"Wait," he croaked, trying to pry the fingers off his neck. "Another game…..," he said, feeling the fingers around his neck tighten.

The Shadow Men froze. Had they heard right? He wanted to play another game after he had already lost?

Julian waited, hoping that his words would buy him time. He was not trying to save himself. No, he would not do that by any means. But, there was Jenny and Alyx to think about. He didn't even want to think about what would happen to them if the Shadow Men were to kill him. There would be no one left to protect them.

He looked up into the sea of Shadow Men faces above him. They were whispering to each other, mulling over the prospect of a new game. Their tan skin was held tightly across their bones. He had once almost accepted the fact that someday he would look like them. But, now he found them grotesque creatures. Revulsion rose in his throat as he saw their disfigured faces looming over him. Why were they just standing there? Why weren't they moving? Surely, they had heard his words. Either they would want the new game or they would kill him. He just wished them would do whatever they were going to do soon.

"Get out of my way, fools!" He heard someone yell and he recognized Ezra's voice.

The sea of Shadow Men parted, allowing Julian a view of Ezra striding forward quickly to where he lay pinned down by hands. The look on Ezra's face was one of interest. Curiosity was a dangerous thing, Julian knew. To a Shadow Man, it could be downright deadly.

"What new game?" Ezra demanded as he came to a stop next to Julian. He looked down at Julian on the ground, a look of uncertainty in his eyes. His eyes narrowed as he waited for Julian's answer.

Julian struggled to sit up, but the Shadow Men held him down. Ah, so that was how it would be, he thought. They would hold him down until Ezra decided his fate. His only hope in saving Jenny and Alyx now was his next words.

"Let us play another game," he started, being sure to pick his words carefully. "This time we play for Jenny's return to me and……," Julian paused, trying to decide if he really wanted to go as far as he was about to. Jenny, he thought and he remembered their kiss in her prison. He remembered how she had looked so frightened in her bedroom and how that look had changed to one of wonder when she had seen him. Yes, he needed to do it. Even if she never forgave him, he needed to be there. For Jenny.

His eyes met Ezra's black ones and he thrust his chin up in defiance. "And my own mortality."

Ezra looked taken aback and then he threw back his head and laughed. "You want to be mortal? Whatever for?" He asked.

Julian narrowed his eyes and he felt the red hot anger rip through his stomach. Ezra knew exactly what for. He knew exactly why Julian would do anything in his power to win this particular game. Julian again tried to get free, to get to Ezra and tear him limb from limb, but strong hands held him down still.

"Ah," Ezra said, cocking his head to one side and looking down at Julian again. "The fair Jenny. It always comes down to her, doesn't it?"

Ezra turned on his heel and walked away. His footsteps echoed across the room as his boots hit the floor. Everyone else in the room was silent. The Shadow Men and Julian were waiting, wondering what Ezra would decide. Would the king of the Shadow Men decide to play another game? Would he want to play against his foe again?

"Release him," Ezra said over his shoulder and Julian felt the hands on him relax their grip. He stood quickly, noting the Shadow Men pull back away from him as he did.

Ezra turned and looked right at Julian. He could not figure out what the other Shadow Man was up to. Every ounce of his being told him that this was a trick, that he should not accept the new game. But, what was he if he was not a Shadow Man who loved games? There was nothing else for him.

And perhaps, Ezra thought, this is the thrill that I needed. He would pick the game. And he would make sure it was one he could not lose. Seeing Julian lose not once but twice would be just too perfect for Ezra. Perhaps it would allow Ezra to feel more content when he allowed the other Shadow Men to take Jenny and Julian. Yes, he would make sure there was no way that he could lose.

"I choose the game," Ezra stated. It wasn't something that Julian could argue at all. Everyone in that room knew that if Julian even tried to disagree with Ezra, Ezra would simply throw him to the Shadow Men.

Julian nodded. There was nothing else he could do.

Ezra smiled. "Fine then," he said and snapped his fingers.

A door on the far side of the room opened and Jenny stumbled in, followed closely by two Shadow Men.

"The game is this: you must convince Jenny to come to you. She must take your hand for you to win. If this is done, then you can have her."

Julian didn't even glance at Ezra. He simply stared at the girl coming across the room. She was still too far away to hear Ezra's plan and Julian was glad for that. But, most of him was angry- angry with Ezra for using Jenny in the new game. Damn him, Julian thought, feeling his eyes narrow and the anger grow in his stomach.

"And my mortality?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Ezra nodded, his eyes on Jenny as well. "Yes, if you win, you may have your precious mortality. But Julian," he added, "I don't intent to let you win."

Okay, like I said earlier, there will only be one or two more chapters to this fic. So, what did you think of this chapter? Review please.